- - - Midwest Record Recap

The Special Consensus is a four member acoustic bluegrass band that began performing in the Midwest in the Spring of 1975. The first band album was released in 1979 when the band began touring on a national basis, and the second was released in 1983. In 1984, The Special Consensus initiated the Traditional American Music (TAM) Program in schools across the country and began appearing on cable television and National Public Radio shows. The band has since appeared on The Nashville Network's Fire on the Mountain show, toured for three seasons as 4/5 of the cast in the musical Cotton Patch Gospel (music and lyrics by Harry Chapin), and released ten additional recordings. Songs from several of The Special Consensus recordings have appeared on the National Bluegrass Survey chart in Bluegrass Unlimited and on the Gospel Truths chart in Bluegrass Now. "The 25th Anniversary" (2000) and "Route 10" (2002) recordings received Highlight Reviews in Bluegrass Unlimited  and "Come Unto Me" on the "Route 10" release reached #1 on the Gospel Truths chart in March, 2003.  A video production of the TAM Program, sponsored by the Northern Indiana Bluegrass Association, was honored by being archived at the International Bluegrass Music Museum in Owensboro, Kentucky. In 2000, Pinecastle Records released the first band performance video, filmed for Iowa Public Television’s "Old Time Country Music" show,  to mark this milestone year for the band.  International tours have brought The Special Consensus to the British Isles, Canada, Europe, Ireland and South America. In 1993, the band performed the first of many concerts with symphony orchestra, complete with orchestral arrangements of songs from the band repertoire. The Special Consensus is included on the touring rosters of the Illinois Arts Council (Artstour program), the North Dakota Council on the Arts, and the Heartland Arts Fund and continues to participate in the Arts Midwest Performing Arts Touring Program.

The Special Consensus repertoire features original compositions by band members and professional songwriters (such as "Carolina in the Pines", "Our Little Town", "Green Rolling Hills" and "Margarita Breakdown"). The repertoire also includes traditional bluegrass standards (songs by Bill Monroe, Flatt and Scruggs, Jim and Jesse McReynolds, etc.) and songs by artists from other musical genres (such as "I’m No Stranger To The Rain" as recorded by Keith Whitley and "Blue Skies" by Irving Berlin). As a result of this musical diversity, The Special Consensus has performed at the most traditional bluegrass festivals and has also been the band to bridge the gap between traditional and progressive bands at more diverse festivals and fairs.

Find their website at www.specialc.com.